Review: Red Hot Chili Peppers at the Great Pyramids of Giza, Egypt, March 15th, 2019
For music lovers, it can be quite rare to see a band as acclaimed as the Red Hot Chili Peppers performing live. However, it’s even rarer to see them performing at one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
On Friday, March 15th, the Red Hot Chili Peppers became the latest band to perform at the Great Pyramids of Giza in Egypt.
With numerous acts having performed there over the years, shows of this nature have become rarer in recent years. So when the LA rockers were announced as the next band to grace the stage at this historical location, it quickly became one of the most in-demand concert tickets in the world.
Attracting tens of thousands of diehard fans, tourists, and music-lovers, it was clear that this show was in no way going to be a run-of-the-mill performance.
Appearing before their audience on a custom-built stage designed to look like a pyramid itself, every member of the band gave their all right from the start.
From the opening jam that saw bassist Flea, guitarist Josh Klinghoffer, and drummer Chad Smith showcasing their talents, to the second when vocalist Anthony Kiedis joined in for ‘Can’t Stop’, there was barely a single audience member who could contain their excitement.
As the group powered through a setlist full of hits, covers, and fan-favourites, it became more and more apparent that this was a truly special place to be.
Between both the band and fans looking at the phenomenal, historic pyramids, to everyone dancing on the sand that is so sacred, it was hard not to feel an almost ethereal connection between the group’s sound and the location that they were performing in.
Before closing out their main set with classics like ‘Under The Bridge’ and ‘By The Way’, bassist Flea made it clear how humbled he was to be in such an amazing location. After thanking the crowd and Egyptian people for their “streets, buildings, air, stars, everything, beautiful beauty, and peaceful love”, he even teased a return visit for the band.
“We hope that this is not the first time,” Flea explained. “We hope that we come back.”
Following a brief encore break, guitarist Josh Klinghoffer returned to the stage, kicking off their three-song encore with a solo piano rendition of Radiohead’s ‘Pyramid Song’. A fitting cover for the occasion, he was soon joined onstage by his other bandmates to round out the evening’s set.
Closing the night with ‘Goodbye Angels’ and ‘Give It Away’, it was clear to everyone witnessing this show in person, or to those millions livestreaming it from around the world, this was the sort of event that only ever comes about once in a lifetime.
The perfect combination of music, atmosphere, and location, if you weren’t lucky enough to be there to witness this performance, it is undoubtedly an experience that you’ll be trying to chase for decades to come.
Check out the Red Hot Chili Peppers ‘Live At The Pyramids’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55pe6t5uc8I
Red Hot Chili Peppers @ The Pyramids, Giza, Egypt 15/3/18 Setlist
‘Can’t Stop’
‘Fortune Faded’
‘The Zephyr Song’
‘Dani California’
‘Dark Necessities’
‘Hey’
‘I Wanna Be Your Dog’ (The Stooges cover)
‘Right On Time’
‘Snow ((Hey Oh))’
‘Pea’
‘Californication’
‘Go Robot’
‘Don’t Forget Me’
‘Higher Ground’ (Stevie Wonder cover)
‘Under The Bridge’
‘By The Way’
Encore:
‘Pyramid Song’ (Radiohead cover)
‘Goodbye Angels’
‘Give It Away’
